When it comes to contributing towards positive social change, one of the best ways in which the media can contribute is through the promotion of varying types of ethos that enact such positive changes. What you have to understand is that an ethos is a distinct orientation an individual has towards a particular way of thinking or acting, however, an ethos is something that can actually be created and manufactured for a specific purpose in order to create a distinct result. Some examples of constructed ethos that promote positive social change are the current ethos involving environmental awareness, animal rights, and the green movement (Williams, 2011). All of these types of ethos have been, in one form or another, created and influenced by the media and as such if the media is to contribute towards positive social change it would be necessary to create and promote such types of ethos so as to direct people towards methods of thinking and acting that are conducive towards such changes (Stroud, 2008). A second way in which the media can contribute towards positive social change is to focus on stories that show acts of kindness, generosity and selflessness. This can often be seen in the various presentations made by ABC News, CNN and BBC wherein they have specials that promote the actions of people noted for helping those in need or for actions that depict considerable levels of morality and ethical responsibility. By promoting these stories the media in effect influences others to emulate them due to the way in which such stories connote that such types of actions create considerable positive effects.
Reference
Stroud, N. (2008). Media Use and Political Predispositions: Revisiting the Concept of Selective Exposure. Political Behavior, 30(3), 341-366.
Williams, A. E. (2011). Media evolution and public understanding of climate science. Politics & The Life Sciences, 30(2), 20-30.